Gov. George W.
Bush took more than $300,000 in contributions for a presidential run that
would be illegal under state law during the legislative session, according
to two environmental-activist groups opposing Bush's remedy for legally
polluting industry.

The environmental activists said Bush's presidential exploration committee
took the money from people affiliated with companies that have an interest
in Bush's voluntary-compliance bill to allow polluting companies a choice
to be covered by the state's air-quality law.

Under Texas ethics law, elected officials cannot accept campaign contributions
during a legislative session. But Bush's exploration committee is governed
by federal law, which does not have the same restrictions.

Robin Schneider, development director of Public Research Works, called
on Bush to give the money back.

No, answered Bush's presidential committee spokeswoman, Mindy Tucker.

"The people of Texas know Governor Bush bases his decisions on what
is right for Texas," Tucker said.

"He's the first governor -- to my knowledge, the first nationally --
initially to come up with a way to get industry to cut down on pollution."

But that's the issue in dispute over the voluntary-compliance legislation
passed by the Senate and pending in the House. Schneider's group and the
Sustainable Energy & Economic Development Coalition, hitting at Bush
in a one-two punch at the press conference Friday, want legislation that
would force so-called grandfathered polluters to comply with air-quality
laws.

Grandfathered plants were either planned or in existence when the state
adopted tougher air control laws and were exempt from the tougher standards.

Schneider and Peter Altman, director of the coalition, told reporters
that campaign contributions Bush has taken for his possible presidential
bid since March 4 included $169,400 from officers of companies operating
grandfathered plants, or their spouses. Another $146,900 came from two
law firms representing the two largest grandfathered polluters in Texas,
Aluminum Co. of America (Alcoa) and Texas Utilities.

A spokesman for one of the law firms, Houston-based Vinson & Elkins,
which represents Alcoa, said $138,900 given by lawyers in the firm represented
individual contributions he helped solicit for Bush, a friend.

"We don't consult with our clients about political contributions," said
Tom Marinis, a partner in the firm.

Altman said documents obtained by state open records law show many of
the companies with grandfathered plants -- which contributed to Bush's
presidential bid -- worked with the governor's office to head off state
regulators who want an end to the exemption for grandfathered plants.

Public Research Works last month had reported that the grandfathered
interests contributed as much as $10 million over six years to Bush, Lt.
Gov. Rick Perry and state legislators in both houses.